Culture and Conflicts

Culture related conflicts are often very sensitive issues that barely anyone would try to pick on. Culture is one of the most essential parts of conflict and conflict resolutions. Brieftly, culture is a a very unique thing that shapes human beings to be what they are, without culture one would be incomplete. For example, Chinese are influenced by their culture that during the Lunar New Year they ought to dress in red and Malays strongly belief in the power of green. These are all customary principles that were made to differentiate one culture from the other and a way of saying "hey, look we are different!"

Usually when solving a cultural conflict most people tend to bend on strategies of dissolution or compromising. Compromising can be that both parties are satisfied with what they want which is also known as the win-win solution or either both have zilch, which is the lose-lose solution. The strategy of dissolution means solving an issue with a third alternative which might be more attractive than the first and second one.

One of the most strongest way to dissolve a conflict is by communication. Most of us know, communication is device that is used to persuade, attract, communicated and encourage others. With using the right ways of communicating, a conflict can be solved not easily but surely. One of the ways is by using the persuassive language. If you can easily persuade the other party, then you have already won half the battle. Other ways of communicating is by explaining what is right only if you have the right stand and being humble might be a good trick to win the other parties' heart. Playing with communication ways can make you a creative one but can be a little risky. Risk lies in the high-context and low-context languages. Mostly Asians, precisely Japanese prefer the high-context language where it involves beating around the bush and not getting straight to the point. This way has the capability to annoy the other party if they were to stand on the low-context language where it involves no "bullsh*t". A Westerner, one from Canada and an asian from Japan would definitely need to work on styles in communicating as they have a vast difference. This might taking things further instead of taming it and dissolving it.

Also, don't always strive in winning. Relying on "give and take" or "give more than take" would be the best idea to resolve a conflict. There are times when we can't have what we want, so why not let others have it instead. You'll be doing a good deed for others and there goes the flowing bucket of good karma! If it is not all that beneficial, don't waste time fretting about it as it will lead to blood and war without any reward.

To conclude, culture and conflicts are best avoided if it's possible as cultural conflicts are the toughest to dissolve. It often leads further if one party does not agree to stop it. Hence, be peacemakers and not warlovers. This relates to this quatotation:

"Live long and prosper "- Mr. Murali

Compiled by Jasneeta Kaur Bhullar =)